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REGIMENTAL PERSONALITIES
THE REGIMENTAL COLONEL-IN-CHIEF
Her Royal Highness Princess Alexandra
It was the Regiment’s very good fortune to have had, as Deputy Colonel-in-Chief, Her Royal Highness Princess Alexandra, who had been Colonel-in-Chief of the DLI. Shortly after the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother, Princess Alexandra (in September 2002) was appointed as the new Regimental Colonel-in-Chief.
Princess Alexandra was born on Christmas Day 1936 at 3, Belgrave Square, her family's London home. She is the second child and only daughter of the late Duke and Duchess of Kent (her brothers are the present Duke of Kent and Prince Michael of Kent). Much of her childhood was spent at their country home, Coppins, in Buckinghamshire. Her father was killed in a wartime flying accident in 1942 when she was just five years old. The Princess was the first British Princess to go to an ordinary school when, in 1947, she went to Heathfield School near Ascot. During her first term there she was one of the bridesmaids at the wedding of her cousin Princess Elizabeth. She later attended a finishing school in Paris, studying French and music. The engagement of Princess Alexandra to Angus Ogilvy, second son of the Earl of Airlie, was announced on 19 November 1962 and they were married on 24 April 1963 in Westminster Abbey. They have two children: James, born in 1964, and Marina, born in 1966; and four grandchildren. Their children carry out no official royal duties. Princess Alexandra is Patron or President of numerous organisations, reflecting her wide-ranging interests.
The Princess's other military affiliations include Colonel-in-Chief of The King's Own Royal Border Regiment, The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada and the Canadian Scottish Regiment (Princess Mary's). She is also Deputy Colonel-in-Chief of The Queen's Royal Lancers.
The Princess is Chancellor of the University of Lancaster and has received honorary Law doctorates from Queensland, Hong Kong, Mauritius and Liverpool Universities. She is an Honorary Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow, of the Royal College of Anaesthetists, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, and the Royal College of Physicians. She was created a Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (GCVO) in 1960. The Princess enjoys music, swimming, skiing and riding. In April 2002, she visited 2 LI in Episkopi, Cyprus, where she met a cross section of the Battalion in the Officers' Mess.
 THE COLONEL OF THE REGIMENT
Brigadier TJG Gregson MBE
Tim Gregson was born on New Year’s Day 1954 in BMH Iserlohn and raised in the DLI, being the eldest son of the late Lt Col Ken Gregson DLI/LI. Like his father, brother and sister, he attended Taunton School. He remembers playing cricket there and avoiding sciences at the earliest opportunity. He read History of Art at Manchester University, prior to attending a mercifully short course at RMAS, where he learnt very little.
Fortunately, he was commissioned into The Light Infantry, and joined 13 Platoon, D Company, 2LI in Lemgo and commanded his platoon in West Belfast, where he learnt everything. After a tour as 2IC D Coy in Ballykinler, he turned down the offer of being RSO (too technical), in favour of seconding to 2/2GR as a rifle company commander in Hong Kong and Brunei. The pay back for this happy idyll was being posted to 1LI as Adjutant in Munster (and West Belfast). Then he was forced to “show again” at RMAS – but this time as an instructor and regimental representative.
After Staff College he took command of D Coy 2LI in Hemer (and West Belfast). This was followed by his first staff appointment as an SO2 in Army Staff Duties MOD; prior to moving to 3LI as 2IC in Paderborn (and West Belfast). Another idyll followed in the shape of JSDC at Greenwich, for which he was punished with an SO1 (G3 Ops/Plans) appointment in the embryonic NATO HQ LANDCENT in Heidelberg.
Again, he had the good fortune to return to regimental duty early, taking command of 1LI, based in Colchester, at the end of 1994. This was his third chance to relish the airmobile role (ie sitting around in dank woods, waiting for helicopters) and included another tour in Northern Ireland. Things took a turn for the worse when command was followed by being sentenced to be Military Assistant to the Adjutant General.
Making his own luck and grasping opportunity, he then moved to HQNI as ACOS G2/G3, followed by RCDS, followed by promotion to Brigadier as Military Attaché in the British Embassy, Paris, which he has thoroughly enjoyed for the last three years. He also had the privilege of being Deputy Colonel (Durham) Light Infantry for five years, prior to becoming Colonel of the Regiment.
His interests include sport (cricket, sociable tennis, learning to sail and liar dice), the Arts, history and cooking. He is engaged to marry Deborah later this year. To conclude his good fortune, he has two children: Francesca, aged 16, who has just won a scholarship at Moreton Hall in Shropshire; and Theo, aged 12, who - like his father before him - is a left-handed batsman, despite being right-handed at everything else.
iN MEMORY OF THE LATE REGIMENTAL COLONEL-IN-CHIEF
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother
The Light Infantry was intensely proud to have, as its first Colonel-in-Chief, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, an association which began in 1927 when, as Duchess of York, Her Majesty became Colonel-in-Chief of the KOYLI.
She will always be remembered.
CEDE NULLIS
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